Tractors at the gates

The halls are decked with flowers and loops of sausages and salami hang from the rafters.

- Cathrin Schaer

There are baby farm animals to cluck at and grown men show off hairy, winter-white thighs in their embroidered leather shorts. Yes, indeed, this is how the German countryside comes to town for Berlin's annual "Grüne Woche" or "Green Week" trade fair.

Only this year, the country folk haven't been quite so delightfully Arcadian. There's traditionally a convoy of tractors in town for the event in support of good environmental causes. But this Green Week, the rustic road hogs have been way more menacing. Farmers have been driving heavy machinery into the central city to protest against government policies.

From early January onwards, long lines of tractors, forklifts and lorries have made for an impressive spectacle outside federal government buildings, as well as some gnarly traffic jams. As many as 100,000 tractors and 30,000 demonstrators were involved in protests around the country.